The Barthelmess Ranch Apprentice will carry much of the day-to-day responsibility for care of our 1,000+ ewe flock of fine-wool sheep. Beginning with lambing in May, the Apprentice will help herd and manage the main flock. Part of the summer may include on-the-ground implementation of a targeted grazing project to control leafy spurge using our yearling ewes on public lands distant from our ranch headquarters. The vast majority of the apprenticeship will be work, but there will also be significant learning opportunities to provide a solid foundation for a person planning a career in sustainable ranching.

RANCH APPRENTICESHIP DUTIES:

This is a full time, seasonal ranch job, with some long days especially during lambing. Hours of work depend in large part on the needs of the livestock. Expect to work in all kinds of weather, occasionally at night, sometimes working a week straight before getting a day off. Tasks vary from day-to-day, including but not limited to the activities of:

Lambing, docking, and herding range sheep
Operating equipment that may include four wheelers, ranch pickups, haying equipment, and skid steer
Feeding and management of livestock guardian dogs which protect the livestock
Cattle management, such as moving cattle in rotational grazing systems, monitoring range and water conditions for cattle and wildlife, distributing salt and mineral
Practical management of barbed, electric, and high-tensile fencing

RANCH APPRENTICESHIP ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

At least 18 years of age
Valid driver license and good driving record
Strong work ethic, both alone and as part of a team
Willing and capable of demanding physical work, including the ability to lift 75 pounds, walk up to 3 miles daily, and work outside in inclement weather
Able to thrive in remote settings with quite limited human interaction, either face-to-face or via technology
The successful candidate will have an eagerness to learn; respect for the land, livestock, and our rural community; good sense and problem-solving ability; commitment to excellence; and strong integrity. We can and will teach skills necessary to become a successful shepherd and steward of the land, but we require the Apprentice to arrive here with the good character necessary to flourish as part of our close-knit ranch team.

Email a letter of interest, along with your resume and contact information for two work-related references, to Eric Barthelmess at clancy4747@gmail.com. Please include your goal(s) in applying for this apprenticeship; your qualifications for the job; the dates of your availability to work; and your contact information. Application deadline April 15, 2017.

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When livestock is kept in the pasture-based system they are let to graze freely and eat nutritious green grass and other green plants that are easily digested by their bodies. The livestock welfare is greatly increased when they graze on green pasture.

Sustainable livestock farming also helps in minimizing damage to the environment and the produces such as meat, eggs and milk is far more nutritious and taste better than food from factory farms.

Animal Health Benefits:

Livestock that are kept in limited factory farms have less quality life than those raised on pasture. Animals when raised on gree pasture can move around and live a natural life where else in factory farms the livestock are all crowded in confined facilities. These facilities do not have sunshine or fresh air allowing bacteria to grow and affect the livestock. This then leads to the livestock being given antibiotics which is not great for the livestock.

Since a great deal of animals eat grass, grazing them on pasture has a lot of benefits. Some of the benefits will be the animals are able to produce saliva which is great for neutralizing acids that is in their gastrointestinal system. As grain fed livestock produce less saliva they frequently suffer from dehydration, intestine harm and even death.

Human Health Benefits:

Livestock farmed on pasture produce more nutritious eggs, meat, milk which is good for consumers than livestock raised on grains. Adding to that, pasture raised foods have a more healthy balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fats then your conventional foods. Their vitamin levels are greater as well.

It’s no question that sustainable livestock farming is the way to go if you need to be a successful livestock farmer. The livestock are raised in a healthy way and the produce is healthy for us human beings.